A river runs through it

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=<* A08: Banks of the Tornmawr *>=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=- In the shadow of the great Highbridge, and beneath the guardhouses, a stretch of river has been laid out as a public park and fishing area. Here, the descending landscape of Alexandria folds into the river and crafts a comfortable view. On a typical day, a number of small boats and picnic blankets dot the landscape. To the side, a small shrine to Rada the River Serpent, as well as a dual shrine to Althea and Daeus, in their guise as Mother and Father of the world.

It's Kesenday, Aestry 01 22:42:42 1018. The full moon isn't up. The tide is high and ebbing. The deep blue night sky is clear and cloudless, and the stars glitter. A cool breeze blows from the west.

Yelrona has been visiting some of Alexandros' shrines, getting a better feel for how humans worship. She comes out of the dual shrine nearby looking relaxed, almost glowing beneath the starry night sky, and lies down in the grass by the riverbank to enjoy the cool blades against her cheek.

The watery splash of oars striking the river's surface only to be reversed and hauled back up into the air, sending a scattering of droplets along the quick-flowing river, announces Velothin's arrival. At this late hour, the only boats on the surface of the river are eithered tethered to a dock or the one in which the Dark Elf is sitting and rowing. The prow of it scrapes up along the gravel-covered shore not so far from the shrines, allowing Velothin to hop out of it lightly with a slight splash as his boots disappear up to the ankles in the cool, clear water. He grabs the pronounced prow, dragging it further ashore so that there is no hope of a sudden wave coming along and stealing his only possession save the ones he wears on himself. Boat secured, he turns to hop up lightly from the shore onto the grassy landscape beyond it and very nearly steps on Yelrona where she lays in the grass. "Ho there!" His voice carries a surprised note, his feet moving quickly to prevent him from trodding on someone he recognizes a moment later. "Hello again, fancy meeting you here."

Yelrona roll to one side to avoid the feet that avoid her on their own, then smiles at the familiar voice. "Mother used to say that if you stay in one place for long enough, everything in the world comes past your door." She rolls gracefully to her feet. "Me, I always thought it was more efficient, or at least more polite, to meet everything halfway. You found a new boat, I see!"

Velothin lets a small but pleasant laugh escape him, his hands moving to his hips where they jostle the sheathes resting there somewhat in the motion. At the mention of his ship however he glances back, looking down at the longboat pulled ashore. "Oh, this? Well, it's what's left of my old ship actually. I took this one with me when the proper ship became smoking timber scattered from here to the Golden Coast." A slight exaggeration, perhaps. It wasn't /that/ big of an explosion. "But it is a boat, I'll give it that. Just not much in the way of the usual creature comforts that you might find on a galleon or a schooner. What brings you down this way?" He glances around them, suddenly wary. "Not more bloody demons, I hope."

Yelrona shakes her head hastily and makes a rather rude warding gesture. "I certainly hope not. Neither demons, nor two-headed giants, nor giant rabbits, nor enchanted lions, nor undisciplined mages. I was rather hoping to get away from all of that for a time." She chuckles darkly for a moment and shakes her head. "Though I suppose you could say the demons brought me here indirectly. I thought it might be expedient to check out the holy shrines around the city, given... well, given that things are as they are. Find out where I might be welcome, should... events... well, you know." She waves her hand vaguely in the direction of the Gardens. "So. A pair of nice older gentlemen mentioned the shrine here," she adds, gesturing to the dual shrine to Althea and Daeus, "so I thought I'd check it out."

Velothin blinks slightly, taking a moment but eventually glancing in the direction that Yelrona gestured to. "Well I'll be damned, there are shrines here. I've never been much of one to worship, so I hadn't paid those things any attention. Rowed by them every day though. Huh," he brings a hand up to his smooth chin, rubbing at it on a thoughtful fashion before shrugging his shoulders with a pleasant smile. "Learn something new every day. Probably good to know too, in case like you say, things go sideways. Haven't been here in this city long, but I think sideways seems to be the rule rather than the exception around here too." There's a bit of a sardonic note to his voice, but an easy-going expression rests on his face nonetheless.

Yelrona considers that carefully, on several grounds. "As you say, we learn something new every day...unless we're VERY careful," she agrees with a rueful chuckle that suggests she has not been quite so careful. "But if sideways is the rule," she asks with an insincere puzzled expression and a playful glint in her eye, "would we even notice? After a while we would just call it straight up-and-down, wouldn't we?"

Velothin agrees internally that Yelrona's thoughts make sense before nodding to show as much on the outside. "You're quite right. And that is utterly terrifying. When you get so used to things going badly that its normal, you know you've moved to somewhere very exciting or very terrible. Or both," he concludes, shrugging his shoulders faintly in a 'what can you do?' sort of way. "Keeps me bloody busy, at least," he adds on a positive note. "When there's things needing doing, there's always someone willing to pay to get them done. Save up enough, and maybe I won't need to camp down by the river here for too much longer."

Yelrona nods. "Surely the purse from our 'babysitting' job will keep a roof over your head for a while, at least, though?" She shrugs. "Though of course one has to plan for the long term, I suppose." She continues to think about the question of 'normal', which turns out to have depths she hadn't considered initially. "May I ask you a somewhat personal question?"

The sound of rocks rollin down the hill is what announces the arrival of Charlotte. She slides down the rest of the hill and looks about for who might be here.

The cooler hours of the night make the riverbank less an attraction, save for dedicated fishermen or nocturnal swimmers. Aya is neither, but she enjoys both the night and the nearby river. She walks out from beneath the bridge and along the rocky bank towards the south.

Velothin nods his head a little. "It would, though I am trying to save up as much as I can in the meantime. I think I'd rather like to own a proper boat again one day, and they don't come cheap. I also don't really have the know-how to just go out, lop down a few trees, and start making my own. So in the meantime, while the weather is good, I don't mind a little camping." The riverbank is not a bad place for it either. So long, of course, as the city guard don't come along and start forcibly evicting people. "A personal question? Go ahead. I'll answer as best I can-" he pauses, glancing around the sound of rocks sliding down a hill with a curious look on his face. "Well, not a demon. I think."

Yelrona startles at the sound of people joining them, but relaxes as no hostilities ensue.

"The Mul'niessa," she begins hesitantly, "all my life I've been told they follow the Shadow Sorceress... the Dark Goddess." She feels a little silly about her unwillingness to name Taara by name, a superstitious habit her mother inculcated in her over the decades. "That they follow her willingly, I mean. I never understood how that could be. But... well, like you said, no matter how terrible something is, it can still seem normal under the right circumstances, right?" It's unclear whether she's actually asking a question, or just pausing for breath. "So... is it like that? Does her service seem normal to those who live in Charn, and the other places her power holds sway?"

She smiles to Aya as she approaches, a familiar face that might also have something to say on the subject, and to the unfamiliar human who has joined them as well.

Velothin tilts his head faintly at the question, not looking particularly perturbed over it. Politely curious, perhaps, would be the best way to describe his expression as he listens to Yelrona speak. "I'm afraid I'm not perhaps the best person to ask that one, actually," he replies honestly, lifting his hands up in front of himself as though he weren't sure what he ought to be doing with them. "My memories of my time there are dim at best, I was very young before I ended up along the Golden Coast where I had little to do with my people or their.. Proclivities. I'm also not a cleric, so I think I'm even less qualified to answer that. That said, I can remember it simply being.. Standard, I suppose? You need to look more at our history to understand how it came about. Bargains with evil gods, you see, are usually piss-poor ideas."

"My sworn sword," Aya greets Yelrona with a slender smile in return. "I'm pleased to see that you're still healthy..." Head and eyes turn to regard the other, as yet unknown to her. A brow arches. "A colonist? Merchant?" She may have overhead some mention of the gold coast.

Charlotte waves quietly. "I thought I saw someone down here, so I came down to see what was up." She says as she walks her way closer. She then nods her head to Aya. "Greetings...."

Yelrona nods at Velothin's response. That was more or less the answer she'd expected. "Yes, that's always been my impression as well. And yet, there's never any shortage of people willing to make them." Thinking about it some more, she laughs amusedly at the idea of Velothin as a Cleric. "Well, no. No more am I," she acknowledges, "but sometimes I find that's better. So many Clerics lack a certain... humility?... when it comes to theological questions."

She is surprised that Aya and Yelrona don't know each other, then privately rebukes herself for her surprise... it's not like she knows all the Dawn Elves in Alexandros, either. "Aya, this is Velothin, my partner in chaos," she offers with a grin. "Velothin, this is Aya, who takes a charming regard for my health."

Velothin looks away from Yelrona in order to get a better look at the two who have approached and are apparently familiar with at least one of the two Elves currently talking. He personally recognizes neither, but doesn't let that wrinkle keep him from fixing them with perfectly pleasant smiles as they draw near. "Sworn sword?" This question is directed sideways to Yelrona, a single white eyebrow arching upward questioningly. At the mention of merchants or colonists however, Velothin simply blinks before directing a finger at himself. "D'you mean me? Neither, if you do. Unless you want to buy fish. I've got some fish," he adds, helpfully. The fish was going to be supper, however. In the wake of the introductions, Velothin plucks his hat up off of his head to give both new faces a bow of his hat despite only having a name to go with one of those new faces. "Velothin, pleased to meet you," he echoes.

"Yes," Aya answers Velothin's question. "She swore her swords and services to me. To her last breath and last drop of blood, if I remember correctly." A brief sidelong glance to Yelrona to confirm her memory before she continues. "Yes, I meant you. You did mention something of leaving Charn for the Gold Coast?" She is late in acknowledging Charlotte, but she does do so with a simple dip of her chin.

Charlotte chuckles a bit. "He probably worries over you for being new around here. And I'm the only human here. Boy do I feel awkward." She says softly as she listens to introductions. Finally it's her turn and she dips into a curtsey. "Charlotte Van Norse of Myrrdion. A pleasure to meet you all." She says softly as she looks to the fish, then to Aya. "Services to you? Who did?"

Yelrona tilts her head uncertainly in Aya's direction, willing to go along with the joke but not entirely sure of her footing. Or had something significant occured while she was delerious with blood-loss, that she'd since forgotten? "Well," she temporizes, "I might wish to reserve a drop or two of blood for myself. I've grown rather fond of it, after all... I've had it with me all my life, it would be quite difficult to part with it." She smiles to Charlotte in greeting. "Well met! It seems only fair," she continues, "seeing as how there are more of you humans here in Alexandros than any other race. We elves need our moment in the sun as well! Or, well," she corrects herself, acknowledging Aya and Vel, "our moment in the shade, as appropriate."

Velothin blows a soft whistle at that rather elaborate swearing of swords that has apparently gone on. "Well. That's rather... Strict, I suppose," he concludes at last, a hand pressing against his jaw as he sought the right words to describe his thoughts on the matter. "I don't like to do much swearing myself. Found it often gets a person into trouble, in my experience, but then that's just my own. These days the only thing I swear to is whatever I stub my foot against," he adds in a chipper tone, shrugging his shoulders faintly to the small chiming of the silvery jewelry on his person. "I grew up along the Gold Coast. Left Charn when I was quite young, barely remember the place. Was never a merchant, though. At least not in the strictest sense of the word. Did spend a lot of time on ships though, moving goods around. So perhaps I am /like/ a merchant." Like a merchant, yes. That would be the best way to put it.

Charlotte says, "If you lost that much blood, maybe you should avoid being hit." Yeah, this one's a smart alec. "Or maybe you're not a swashbuckler.""

Above, A griffon pokes its eagle-like head over thevedge of the bridge and extends its wings then jumps off the bridge, with an elf on its back. They catch a gust of wind and glide upon it down to the riverbank below.

Aya studies Yelrona a moment and reconsiders. "Perhaps that was someone else. My apologies. I have met many exuberant and energetic strangers the last few nights. I may have confused them." She looks back to Velothin. "A shame you left so long ago. It was quite the sight, or it was when last I saw it."

Yelrona smiles. "You know," she tells Vel, a smirk playing on her lips, "in some cultures an oath sworn on a stubbed toe is considered binding. You might want to be careful about that."

At Charlotte's comment her eyes light up. "Avoid being hit! _Avoid_ being hit! That makes so much more sense! All this time I've been doing it wrong!" She frowns and her brow wrinkles as she pretends to affix the advice firmly in memory. "You have my thanks, Lady... truly it is said that combat is best left to those who know its ways well." She looks up sharply as a shadow crosses over the riverbank, and grins at the sight of a familiar griffon. "Ettin-Slayer!" she shouts enthusiastically. "Join us, and let me tell my companions of your skills!"

Velothin finds his usual campsite becoming increasingly popular as all of a sudden a griffon and its rider - a familiar face, if only just - make an appearance. It'd be more entertaining if he hadn't chose it precisely because it tended to be quiet in the evening. He'd obviously need to relocate when he actually wanted to do some sleeping. "I believe I'll pass on visiting the old homeland," Velothin replies with a slight wave of his hands before himself as if to ward off the very notion. "I'm not much interested in reconnecting with my roots. They can just stay right where I left them." He glances aside at Yelrona at her comment, snorting faintly. "Woe betide the man that tries to make that sort of an oath binding. I'm a gentleman, but I don't take too well to being forced into oaths. Or ill-fitting pants, for that matter."

Charlotte laughs. "Those that are faster should avoid being hit. Those that are not.....have heavier armor." She then giggles a little. "You've seen them. They grunt when they walk, drink ale like water, and like it's the last drink they'll ever have. That's because it may be true. They put everything into one swing, then when they don't connect, they do it again. No variation in their attack. For me? They put everything possible into their swing....I knock it aside, and stab them. Who dies first? Not me."

One corner of Aya's mouth lifts at Charlotte's commentary. "Strong and dull are useful, but they are only useful to a point." Per Velothin's request, she leaves mention of his roots where he left them.

The griffin and his rider land upon the beach right next to the gathering of late-night beachcombers. The rider dismounts, and says, "Well met, friends."

Yelrona is suddenly overcome with the impulse to... well, to be perfectly honest, to embarrass Ga'Elian a bit, though his tale _is_ worth retelling. She's sure Tarien would approve. "So modest!" she cries out, mimicking the dramatic style of the bards she's seen perform, albeit with none of their actual skill, "Alas, I lack the skill to truly paint the scene for you. But I will try. Picture: farmland!" she announces loudly, spreading her hands apart to indicate the landscape. "A single farmhouse," she continues, gesturing to Vel's longboat. "And a poor farmer, beleaguered by giant rabbits chomping away at his livelihood!" She _almost_ cracks up at the reminder about the rabbits. "Now: a hardy group of adventurers, mighty with sword and bow... and your humble narrator, of course, accompanying them to chronicle the tale." She attempts to snatch Vel's hat from his head and, if successful, makes a sweeping bow with it before returning it to him. "The rabbits are easily defeated, but soon their owner comes along... an ettin, two headed, angry. There is no reasoning with him. He charges!" She rushes the group, arms outstretched, roaring almost entirely unlike an ettin. "We scatter! All seems lost until Ga'Elian the Wild, after ensuring the safety of his noble steed Erithamiel -- who is a GOOD griffon, yes he is! -- notches a single arrow and fires, slaying the foul creature in a single shot!" Not _precisely_ true, granted, but close enough, and these tales are always exaggerated a little for effect in her experience. "The crowd roars its approval! Or, well," she adds in a more normal tone, "the farmer pays us, anyway, which I suppose is close enough. And the griffon-rider is henceforth known as Ge'Elian EttinSlayer!"

Velothin points a finger in Charlotte's direction. "I like the cut of your jib. If there's one thing in this life that I enjoy, it's not getting hit. And if there's another that's a close second, it's giving someone trying to hit me a reason to think twice about it." He nods his head, though he pauses slightly to add, "Ah, and gardening. Never got to garden much, but now that I'm on land I think I might take that up for fun." He glances at Ga'Elian and offers a polite wave of his hand, remembering the ranger from the mountains some days ago. The story, however, becomes the focus of the conversation rather shortly. He stares at Yelrona throughout the entire tale, both brows arched mildly and an expression of rapt but polite attention on his face. At last, when it seems she is done, he brings his hands together for a few short claps both for her storytelling and to celebrate the hero of some hour that he himself was not there for. "That seems like it was quite the.. Adventure, I suppose. And there was even pay to go with it, all the better!"

Charlotte says, "Yes. An Ettin with giant rabbits. Mmmf. Must've been a harrowing ordeal. Good thing you were there to stop. They say two heads are better than one, but all an archer needs is an extra shot.""

Ga'Elian listens as Yelrona tells her story, then takes on a bit of color and a sheepish look as he says to Velothin, "Oh, yes. That was the night when the Vardamite necromancer was collecting bones at that dragon-battered old fort, right?" Erithamiel lets out a quick squawk. The elf responds to Yelrona's tale with, "I remember it a little differently. It took two arrows and a dead giant rabbit, but the gods smiled upon my bow, for certain."

Yelrona concedes the point with a grin. "Ah yes... two arrows. And I'd forgotten about the giant rabbit... I suppose a true warrior can make a weapon out of anything that comes to hand. And, I suppose the rest of us helped a little, as well. Still, it really was impressive shooting... I've never seen anything like it."

Velothin nods his head. "That's the night. Didn't take him for a necromancer though, just thought he was a bit of a weirdo that wanted to collect some bones for ornamentation. I've seen the odd throne room decked out in old bones, after all. Bit bleak for my tastes." He's more of a fan of well-woven throw rugs. "Seems you've met a lot of interesting folk here of late," he notes in Yel's direction, his gaze moving from her to the two in question. "Think you were right too. Sideways is the norm."

"That is impressive," Aya agrees, "and even better that you didn't need to get near. Avoid being hit while hitting is always best."

Charlotte looks to Velothin. "Necromancer." She makes a bit of a face. "Did you mention any of that to the Temple of Vardama?"

Velothin shakes his head. "Absolutely not, the thought didn't even cross my mind. I should remedy that immediately." With that, Velothin removes himself from the little gathering that has taken place. He hops lightly back down from the grassy ledge down to the shore next to the river where his longboat currently rests. "Can't have them just, skulking about you know, quite right," he calls back over his shoulder between grunts as he pushes the longboat out into the river, dark water splashing up around his boots with every step. Nimbly, he propels himself into the longboat with a slight thud. "Good evening, ladies and gentleman! I'm off to that temple now, wherever it may be. Gods smile on you all, etcetera etcetera and so on," he calls to them as he seats himself in the boat, sweeping his hat from his head and waving it fondly in their general direction. "Till next we meet!" Taking up the oars, the Dark Elf begins to row. Quickly, at that, down the river.

Charlotte whistles to Velothin. "It's that way." She points to the east....and up the mountain.

Velothin waves his hat again, "Don't care! Goodbye!" And off he goes.

Yelrona nods to Anya. "Yes, so Charlotte was saying earlier." Then she actually pays attention to what the others are talking about, and her normally jovial face twists into a hostile scowl at the mention of necromancers. She is about to ask Velothin when he takes off, so she turns to Charlotte. "Is the Temple of Vardama particularly interested in necromancers?" she asks, eagerly.

Charlotte says, "yes. Very much so. Mostly the type of necromancers that create undead. And their war is primarily against undead." She then chuckles. "Last I heard, they had a branch called 'Hunters of the Dead'. That should tell you how serious it is.""

Ga'Elian says, "This necromancer was, or I suppose *is*, a Vardamite priest, and uses his talents to bring the unliving to final rest."

Charlotte says, "Interesting. Hmmm....I'd better head my way up there myself. Say something to the temple." She says as she waves. "Catch you all later, I think.""

Yelrona nods to Charlotte, and makes a mental note to drop by the Temple of Verdana the next day to find out what they might know about necromantic activity a few decades ago that her father might have gotten involved in. "Good to know. Thank you," she replies seriously, before giving Erithamiel a long-delayed scritching.

Yelrona looks back up to the griffon-owner as the group scatters. "Can I interest you in some celebratory ale? And perhaps you could tell me more about this Vardamite necromancer?"

Ga'Elian sits on a rock and says, "Sure, only... I really remember very little of him. He was human, but his name eludes me. I wouldn't worry. He seemed decent enough, if exceedingly odd."

Yelrona looks skeptical, and mutters something about "decent necromancers" that quickly degenerates into incomprehensibly gutteral Mynsandraal before shrugging. "Ah well. The offer of ale holds, nevertheless. I make it a point to establish close friendships with people who can kill giants at range," she explains with a grin, "plus it's the only way I get to see Erithamiel. If you don't mind my asking," she adds as they drift pubward, "how did you two meet?"

Ga'Elian says, "Well, it wasn't all that long ago, I took a dreamquest in which Eluna's power gave me visions to guide me. After treking through the forests, the hills, and finally the mountains, he found me and the Sky Dancer blessed us to bond with each other." <sildanyari>

Yelrona smiles fondly. "He suits you. You fly together like one flesh." <sylvan> After a longish pause she adds "When I was very young, no more than two or three decades old, a ranger came to our settlement... he was tracking an escaped something-or-other, I think, I didn't pay much attention. I was far more enraptured by the wolf who travelled with him. Not like the domesticated dogs that humans keep... he was still wild, but had chosen in his wildness to accompany this warrior. I was enraptured... for several years after that I swore I would go live in the forest and eat berries and raw game until I too earned the favor of a wolf companion." She chuckles fondly at her remembered younger self. "It didn't last, of course. A decade later and I was playing at spells and counterspells with Kalniss and boasting of how we would each be the greatest mage in all of history. And Tarien himself only knows how many other wild schemes. Still... seeing how you two are together reminds me of that wolf."

Ga'Elian smiles. "It is well. But well, too, is the path you have chosen, and the favor of Tarian upon you."